Windsor swears in new police chief

Anna Posniak swears in new Windsor Police Chief Donald J. Melanson on Monday, Aug. 3. Beside him are his wife, Michelle, and children, Patrick and Sarah. Photo by Jennifer Coe.

Anna Posniak swears in new Windsor Police Chief Donald J. Melanson on Monday, Aug. 3. Beside him are his wife, Michelle, and children, Patrick and Sarah. Photo by Jennifer Coe.

Jennifer CoeReminder News

Windsor swears in new police chief

After a search of several months, the Windsor Police Department has hired a new police chief to replace its former chief, Kevin Searles, who retired in 2014.

Arriving to head the Windsor Police Department is Capt. Donald J. Melanson from the West Hartford Police Department. Melanson was a captain in the WHPD for five years and has overseen investigations as well as training and traffic divisions. Prior to his time in West Hartford, Melanson was a police officer in Manchester.

Melanson's Oath of Office ceremony was held on Monday, Aug. 3, at Windsor Town Hall. Many chiefs from local towns were in attendance, as were Windsor officers and the new chief's friends and family members.

Melanson said he was attracted to taking the helm in Windsor because of the town's small-town community involvement spirit. "When I made the decision to look for a police chief position, I wanted to become part of a community that would embrace a community policing philosophy; where the officers are of the fabric of the community," he said. "Windsor is that community."

In the address he gave at the swearing-in ceremony, Melanson said:

"I will not let you down… I am truly honored and humbled to have been appointed as your police chief. My commitment to you is that I take all the responsibilities commensurate with this position. But a police department is not about its police chief. It's about the men and women who work day and night, sacrifice holidays and family events and risk injury and sometimes life to make their community safer... Together as officers we uphold the virtues and all that is good in policing. We are fortunate in that we work in a community that strongly supports us."

The new chief said he would like to get to know his new community quickly. "During my first six months, my primary goals that I would focus on include developing positive relationships within the department and throughout the community," Melanson said. He would also like to "learn and assess departmental operations and policies, and work with department and community members to develop goals and objectives to move the department forward."

"I am looking forward to working with the men and women of the Windsor Police Department to further cultivate its excellent reputation well into the future," said Melanson.